The stage is set for a tense final day at the Investec SA Women’s Open with Slovenia’s Pia Babnik and England’s Esme Hamilton locked at the top on 13-under par following a very windy round three.
The pair lead their playing partner from Saturday, England’s Cara Gainer, by one shot to set up a repeat final group heading into Sunday in South Africa.
Babnik lead by three shots through 54 holes before the wind ascended on Royal Cape Golf Club causing a difficult test for all 66 players who made the cut.
The 22-year-old Slovenian, a two-time Ladies European Tour (LET) winner, would sign for a scorecard of 74 (+1) in gusty conditions with Hamilton reducing the deficit thanks to a superb round of 70 (-3). The 26-year-old’s card included a brilliant birdie at the 18th in front of the gallery of fans.
“Being from England, I am quite used to some interesting conditions,” Hamilton said, runner-up at last year’s Tipsport Czech Ladies Open. “It didn’t really phase me at all. I was just going to go out there and play my own game. I used my caddie [Alex Long]’s knowledge of the wind as he’s from Scotland so he’s very used to it too. I went for it today.
“I feel like it actually could have been better, too. My misses were in good spots but I didn’t capitalise on that. I started off really well. I was three-under through five and could have been four-under through five had I made the eagle putt. The birdie at 18 felt great because I’ve done that twice now – finishing on a high after a testing day.”
With two birdies and three bogeys on moving day, Babnik said: “It was absolutely brutal out there today. Both of the other girls [Hamilton and Gainer] played really well. I tried to keep up with them and enjoy what I can enjoy.
“My plan today was to just keep my ball safe. I tried to take advantage on the holes where the wind was help… which was not that easy. For most of the time I managed to do that. I’m definitely going to go for it tomorrow and what will be will be.”
Gainer meanwhile, a one-time LET winner, posted a round of 72 (-1) which included three birdies and two dropped shots.
“I’m pleased with the back-nine,” the 30-year-old said, whose red numbers came at the 11th, 12th and 15th, “Making birdie at the par-3 15th was important. The course is pretty narrow at the best of times, you need to hit fairways, so factoring in wind makes it even narrower. It was really tricky out there. The downwind par-3s were absolutely brutal, you could barely stop it on the green.
“I feel like we were in a matchplay situation for pretty much the whole day. I looked at a couple leaderboards and it didn’t look like anyone else was up there – especially in tricky conditions. Tomorrow is the same thing again. I guess it’s a matchplay tournament. I know the conditions won’t be easy tomorrow, we’re adding rain to the wind so it’s all about being patient.”
In solo fourth on nine-under par sits Austria’s Emma Spitz. The Olympian got off to a difficult start on Saturday at Royal Cape Golf Club dropping shots at the 1st and 3rd before rebounding well in the wind for a round of even-par. Like Hamilton, Spitz is chasing a maiden LET victory this week having finished runner-up at the 2024 Amundi German Masters.
Canada’s Anna Huang, still just 17-years-old, matched the round of the day early on on posting a 70 (-3) to soar up the leaderboard. She shares fifth spot heading into the final round with two Americans, Brianna Navarrosa and Anna Morgan, as well as England’s Meghan MacLaren.
Wales’ Lydia Wall sits in ninth on six-under par after the one-time LET winner matched Hamilton and Huang’s score of the day at Royal Cape Golf Club.
The final round of the Investec SA Women’s Open gets underway tomorrow at 7:30 local time. It will now be a two-tee start in light of predicted bad weather with the live broadcast getting underway at 11:00 local time.
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